Tuesday, January 26, 2016

I am getting a little stir crazy, jumping from project to project. I just finished a quilt I really love but can't show it to you because it is for a challenge in March. As I was cleaning up the scraps I decided to make a quick pincushion

Making one is not exactly hard but I found a couple of tips that can make it easier for you. First start with you choice of fabric or quilt "top". These squares are 1" finished, the pincushion will be 4" when sewn together.
Take the time to make it cute and press well.

At this point you can do one of two things......you can quilt it, I would recommend a very thin batting. You can take some lightweight fusible interfacing and fuse it to the wrong side of your top. I feel like it just makes the top nice and gives it a little body. If you use crushed walnut shells the dust does not migrate out.

Cut out your back fabric 4 1/2" and press well with a little starch or Mary Ellen's Best Press.

Sew a 1/4" all the way around leaving an opening at the bottom. Mine was a 2" wide opening. Next clip the corners as shown in the photo. Be careful not to go through the stitching. This eliminates a lot of the bulk in the corners and makes the points sharper.

Before you turn it right side out, Draw a line with a fine tip pencil on the edge that you left open for turning.

Finger press it on that line and then press well with the iron. Do both sides.

Turn it rightside out and press well. The opening is now in perfect alignment with your sewn edges. You won't get that uneven edge, that drives me crazy! I use a diagonal stitch with a matching thread and take the smallest stitch possible that will keep it together.

I use crushed walnut shells that you can find in the pet supply store where they keep the reptile supplies. It gives it a nice weight but you could also use fiber filling as well.

I have now been in the house for 4 days now except for Sunday night when I went to the ER because I slipped on the ice and thought I broke my wrist. Thank goodness I didn't but it is a bad sprain and has limited my activities a bit. Just today the snow behind my car was plowed out. You know the story, the cobbler's children don't have any shoes!

Monday, January 25, 2016

This was about 1:00 in the afternoon on Saturday. Then it felt like the heavens opened up and it was truly a blizzard!

This was the next morning. Think about sitting in that chair and it is to the top! The hump to the right is our grill. It is pretty though...notice it is all the up to the bottoms of the swings.
Ok I have a rant......a friend just sent me an email saying her neighbor is going to cancel their mowing contract because the guy hasn't gotten there yet to plow their driveway. This is incredibly hard work even with a snow plow on a truck. Trucks are breaking down, Saturday you couldn't even see and they are working 18 hour days. Trust me they want to be done with it as much as you want it to be done! Our crew is out again today and will be out again tomorrow. The snow is extremely heavy and takes about 3x as long to do as a normal snow, not to mention they are working in the cold and at the end of the day in the dark. They will get to you as soon as they can. Not everyone can be first on the list! Please be patient this is a historic snowfall! Ok now that I got that out......
Well almost, I can't even get out of my garage because my husband has not had time to plow it out. You know the cobbler's children have no shoes!

My circles are really coming along. I think this might be a big quilt. The block size is 5" unfinished. I like how they are not perfect circles.

This is the one I made on the day of the blizzard. I have been putting the date on the seam allowances.

I so want to show you this but it is for a challenge so it will have to wait.

Friday, January 22, 2016

I love the striking contrast of this star block. I found it while looking through.........

this fantastic book. When our guild closed down our library I was able to get this book. If you can still find it grab it, it's well worth all the inspiration you will find inside. It will most likely be a 4 block wallhanging.

I finished the Legend of Zelda quilt and will show it to you when it is quilted and bound. My grandson Griffin is going to love it! After such a big and intense project I just NEEDED to sew something fast, simple and fun. I have been eyeing up all the vintage embroidery pieces I have squirreled away and decided to make a pincushion just because I love them!

As everyone must know by now, we are getting a HUGE snowstorm starting tonight. I am as ready as I can be with sewing projects, food and some books. Fingers are crossed we don't lose our power. This is the next pick for our book club and it looks pretty good.

My friend Judie recommended this one too. It looks very good and she is a good source. We seem to like the same kind of books. I think I have all the bases covered.
We just got an update of 17"-23" of snow yikes! Good luck to everyone else on the East Coast!

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

It's finally freezing here and we might be getting a big snowstorm this weekend! This picture warms my heart. Look how much they have grown! They are the sweetest little boys. Cameron looks very much like my son and Jaxon looks like his mom's side of the family.

They are big boys now, sitting in their highchairs and eating food. It was fun to watch their faces as they tasted the food. I tried to get some more pictures but they are at the age where they don't hold still so they were all blurry! Colin and Jenny are doing a great job as parents of twins. The boys have been sleeping.through.the.night.for.2months.now! Lots of high 5's for them!

While everyone else is hitting the store for milk, bread and eggs, I am at my local quilt shop making sure I have projects to get me through the next couple of days. This adorable fabric was at The Quilt Block and even though I don't have a little girl in mind, I just could not resist!

It is a panel and has a sorts of fun things to make. Lil Red also has a hood (red of course).

A doll quilt! I love this, complete with a backing fabric. So if you are local, go to the Quilt Block and get yours now before it is gone (610-363-0404). I think they would send it to you to if you live far away.

They have some pretty cute companion fabric too!

I also spied this that will work great with my giant hexagon project.

The Legend of Zelda quilt is coming along. All the blocks are complete and now I have to add the surrounding fabric.

I want to finish it up so I can get back to some other projects. I very seldom just work on one project from start to finish (oh what a surprise!)

Next up is our annual Penn Oaks Getaway. I need to get some projects ready for that too.

I will giveaway one panel of this adorable fabric. Tell me what is your favorite thing to do during a snowstorm. Do you also hit up the quilt store? I will pick a name next Wednesday, January 27th. Please be sure I have your email or you will not be eligible to win. Good Luck!

Friday, January 8, 2016

I am sure you have seen this quilt all over the place. A few months ago a couple of friends of mine twisted my arm asked me if I wanted to get together and work on making a La Passacaglia quilt. No one is quite sure how to pronounce it and it has been dubbed "La Pas". My supplies came yesterday and I will say, Holy Cow this will be a very LONG term project. I am a bit intimidated and am not sure where to even start.
Any tips anyone can pass along are much appreciated. I have joined the Face Book group and I think that will be a help. Feel free to chime in if you have any personal experience with this gorgeous quilt.
I won't be starting it any time soon because I cut the tip of my thumb with a NEW rotary cutter blade yesterday. I am still working on the Zelda quilt though it is very clumsy.

Our children bought us a Smart TV for Christmas. We have been hooked on House of Cards. Not since Katherine, the horrible mother in East of Eden have I seen a more cold and calculating character (Claire)! Are you watching? any reviews? Don't tell me what happens, we just started season 3!

Thursday, January 7, 2016

I took a break from my Zelda quilt to make a swap block for next month's guild meeting. I might make another because......

I got these pretty fabrics for Christmas. Think how cute that heart fabric would look in the Valentine block above or even a wedding quilt.

I am also following Audrey at Quilty Folk and doing a circle a day that will be a long term project. If you are interested head over and check out Quilty 365 to get all the details. I love everything Audrey makes, she is so creative! I have not kept to one a day but once the Zelda quilt is done that might happen. I chose to machine applique all of mine down to make it a doable project. I really like the effect.

The mummy block is complete! This is a quilt that needs your full attention, ask me how I know that!

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Isn't it interesting that you can convince yourself of something even though it may not be what you see? You could look at this strawberry and think Christmas or you could see Valentine's day. It's like reading between the lines, it can get you into trouble. I am going to try and do less reading between the lines this year. I don't do resolutions but think of how much time you spend wondering this that or the other thing when in reality it is just a strawberry, albeit a very cute strawberry!

I am so excited about this new experience! Last night was the first meeting and the energy in the room was palatable. The 3 people who decided to start this new guild were very organized and I think this will be a vibrant community of quilters.

I am still making squares and I won't lie it is tedious even with my super cool ruler! In the end I know how much he is going to love the quilt. Now if I can just stop making mistakes.

Monday, January 4, 2016

This was the year of the pincushions! I love them and am always happy to receive them, especially when my friends take the time to make them for me. How amazing is this one? Judie handstitched the wool appliques on this. It is almost too pretty to use. I love the pretty colors.

I am making progress on Griffin's quilt but will keep it real by telling you I made an entire section (for the sword) wrong yesterday. That was about 1 1/2 hours down the drain. It couldn't even be saved.
Like everyone else I am trying to get back to normal this week and that includes sewing! My Christmas decorations are put away and the house looks relatively clean. I love a clean slate!